Message from the Chief Executive - Eldercare

Message from the
                                                                                 Chief Executive
                                      COVID-19 Update – 26 July 2021
                                      Dear Staff Members

                          Pleasingly the COVID situation across South Australia has
                          improved steadily and the Premier has this morning
announced that lockdown will end at 12 midnight on Tuesday 27th July. In recent days
there have been a number of matters which staff need to be aware of.
Masks – must continue to be worn
Despite the relaxing of some restrictions, Aged Care Emergency Direction (No.39) will remain in place and as a
result the requirement for staff and visitors to wear masks still exists. Therefore, any person (other than a
resident or a child under 12 years) must not enter or remain on the premises of a residential care home unless
the person is wearing a face mask (covering mouth and nose) at all times when in the physical presence of other
persons. This includes staff, volunteers, visitors, doctors, and contractors.

Masks do not need to be worn in our memory support units and all previously approved exemptions still apply to
individual staff members.

Payments for staff required to quarantine
We have been monitoring the government response regarding any payments which may become available for
people affected by quarantine or lockdown requirements. It has now been confirmed that staff who are not able
to attend work because they have been experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have been diagnosed as COVID-19
positive, require testing or are subject to self-isolation or quarantine requirements are eligible for paid leave. The
leave entitlements will be paid by Eldercare who will be reimbursed by the government. Therefore, the following
arrangements will continue to apply:

    •   Staff with access to paid sick leave will be required to utilise and exhaust this leave in the first instance.
    •   After paid sick leave is exhausted, Eldercare will provide paid special leave.
    •   For permanent staff, the paid special leave will be paid based on the permanent shifts that staff are
        required to be absent for.
    •   For casual staff, paid special leave will be based on the average weekly hours worked over the past three
        pay periods.

In order to access paid leave (including sick leave) under the above provisions, employees will be required to
provide evidence that either:
    • they have been contacted by SA Health directing them that they are required to quarantine, or
    • they have been at an identified exposure site and have completed the form on the SA Health Contact
        Tracing Page to notify SA Health of their presence at this location.

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SA Health also requires individuals who are quarantined to undergo COVID testing at specified intervals. In
accordance with standard Eldercare protocols, employees will be required to submit evidence of all COVID testing
results to admin@eldercare.net.au for Head Office Staff or to the Rosters Team for site based staff.

Applications for special paid leave will be considered at the discretion of the Operational Services Executive and
will only be approved where there is a clear need to quarantine in accordance with SA Health directions and
where appropriate evidence can be provided.

We are aware that both the Commonwealth and State Governments have payments available for individuals who
have lost employment income due to impacts of COVID-19. These payments are reserved for people who do not
have any access to paid leave entitlements. Because Eldercare employees will have access to paid leave as
outlined above, you will not be required or entitled to apply for these government payments.

Exposure sites
A reminder for staff to check and continue to monitor the SA Health Contact Tracing Page and follow the guidance
on that site regarding quarantine and testing requirements. Please note the different categories of exposure sites,
which provide guidance on whether or not members of the household are also required to quarantine.
If you:
     • Have visited one of the listed exposure sites during the specified as per the SA Health Contact Tracing
        Page
     • Have been advised to quarantine/isolate by SA Health
     • Are a close contact of someone else who visited one of the listed exposure sites, or
     • Are a close contact of someone who has been advised to quarantine/isolate by SA Health
You MUST advise your supervisor and/or the rostering team.

COVID Tests – please notify us
A reminder that if you are unwell with COVID related symptoms you must have a COVID test. We also ask you to
please notify Eldercare that you have had a test AND provide evidence of the test result, once received. Staff
based at an Aged Care Home should notify and provide evidence to the rostering team. Head office staff should
notify and provide evidence to Mary Jolly on admin.headoffice@eldercare.net.au.

Employee vaccinations – new clinics now open
As someone who works in a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF), you are eligible to be vaccinated now and are
able to receive a Pfizer vaccine, regardless of age. It is important that you get vaccinated to protect yourself and
the residents you care for from COVID-19.

Two new vaccination clinics have opened in Highgate Park and Enfield providing the Pfizer vaccine for RACF staff,
along with the Medindie vaccination clinic which also recently opened. Further details are contained in the
attached brochure.

A reminder that it is mandatory for employees to inform their employer when they are vaccinated for COVID.

In accordance with the SA Government Emergency Direction for Residential Care (No.39), if you have
received your first or second dose of your COVID-19 vaccine, you must provide evidence of your                   |2
vaccination to Eldercare by emailing this to vac@eldercare.net.au.

COVID-19 Hotline
Our hotline continues to operate. If you have any COVID questions, please call the hotline on 0477 995 542. The
hotline is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Pandemic Kindness Movement
At this challenging time it is important that our staff are well supported. The Pandemic Kindness Movement was
created by clinicians across Australia, working together to support all health workers during the COVID-19
pandemic. They have created several evidence-informed resources and links to valuable services to support the
wellbeing of the health workforce. I encourage you to have a closer look at https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/covid-
19/kindness

Thank you for your continued resilience and support.

Regards
Scott Morgan
Acting Chief Executive

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